Asia and Oceania

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• We advise against all but essential travel to Zhanaozen and Shepte at this time. On 16 December 2011 there were clashes in the towns of Zhanaozen and Shepte in western Kazakhstan, resulting in 17 deaths. We are not aware of any British nationals having been affected. A state of emergency was declared in the city of Zhanaozen and a curfew is in force there; both of which have been extended until the end of January. You should continue to avoid large crowds and demonstrations throughout Kazakhstan.
  

• On 12 November 2011 an armed attack took place in the southern Kazakh city of Taraz. Seven people were killed.
  

• On 31 October there were reports of two explosions in Atyrau, western Kazakhstan. One man, who reportedly blew himself up, was killed. No other casualties have been reported.
  
  

• There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  

• You may travel to most places in Kazakhstan, but travel to any 'closed territories' or secure areas require advance permission from the relevant authorities. Some military/restricted areas are not clearly marked so care should be taken when travelling away from normal routes. See Entry Requirements.
  
  

• With the exception of Air Astana, all Kazakh airlines are refused permission to operate services to the EU because they do not comply with internationally accepted safety requirements. You should avoid flying with the airlines subject to the EU operating ban. See Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel.
  
  

• You should get a visa in advance of your visit and ensure it covers the entire duration of your stay. See Entry Requirements.
  
  

• Most visits to Kazakhstan are trouble-free. Eight British nationals required consular assistance in Kazakhstan in the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011. See General - Consular Assistance - Statistics. But criminal incidents involving expatriates do sometimes occur in Kazakhstan. Local regulations require you to carry your original passport at all times. See Crime.
  
  

• You should get comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.  Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by expatriates and foreign travellers. In addition, you should also be alert to any security-related announcements by the Kazakh authorities, and if in any doubt, keep in touch with the British Embassy in Almaty.

On 17 May 2011, a suspected suicide bomber attacked the National Security Committee office in the north western city of Aktobe. The Kazakh authorities believe the attack was undertaken by a member of an organised crime group. The attacker died at the scene and two people were injured.

In June a firefight between security forces and an armed group in the Temir District of Aktobe Oblast. Further standoffs occurred in the following days, reportedly resulting in the deaths of three police officers and ten members of the armed group.


See our terrorism abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
Most visits are trouble-free. However, mugging, sometimes violent, and theft occur in both cities and rural areas and foreigners can be a particular target.

There have been a number of violent attacks and muggings on the expatriate community in Atyrau and Aktau in western Kazakhstan. At least 10 were reported to the British Embassy in Kazakhstan in 2009. More recently, there have been assaults reported in Astana and Almaty involving western nationals. Attacks have largely taken place at night, in and around local nightclubs and bars or when coming home late at night as the majority of apartment buildings have dark stairwells and no lifts. Avoid walking alone and where possible pre-arrange transport. Keep valuables in a safe place and out of public view. Avoid travelling in unofficial taxis, particularly at night and alone, or if there is another passenger already in the car.

Robberies have occurred on trains, so always lock railway compartments on overnight trains. Passenger lists on aircraft are not always kept confidential. There have been instances of people being met from an aircraft by someone using their name and subsequently being robbed especially travelling to provincial airports.

As in many major cities, other incidents of crime (involving both foreign and local people) have included theft from vehicles waiting at traffic lights or parked cars, copying of cash or credit cards at fraudulent ATM machines, and spiking of drinks in bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Keep personal belongings, especially your passport, safe and out of sight, as several incidents of passport theft have been reported in the last year.

See our victims of crime abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel
We advise against all but essential travel to Zhanaozen and Shepte at this time. On 16 December 2011 there were clashes in the towns of Zhanaozen and Shepte in western Kazakhstan, resulting in a number of deaths. We are not aware of any British nationals having been affected. A state of emergency was declared in the city of Zhanaozen and a curfew is in force there; both of which have been extended until the end of January. You should continue to avoid large crowds and demonstrations throughout Kazakhstan.

Travellers should note that along the Uzbek-Kazakh border, Uzbek Border Stations are subject to unadvertised closure at any time. Please check our Travel Advice for Uzbekistan before planning any visits to that country.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
International driving licences are valid in Kazakhstan. However if you are resident in Kazakhstan you are advised to obtain a Kazakh driving license after six months residency.

Service stations and petrol/water access can be limited outside the main cities. Make sure you take all you need for your journey. You should ensure that your vehicle is properly maintained and in good condition for lengthy journeys across Kazakhstan. Many cars are not safely maintained and do not have rear seatbelts. In some remote parts of Kazakhstan animals can be seen regularly on the roads and can be especially difficult to see in the dark. You should not use local buses or mini-buses as maintenance of these vehicles is generally poor. Driving can be erratic and care should be taken crossing roads as pedestrian crossings are rarely respected.

Many roads are poorly maintained and road works or damaged roads are often not clearly signposted and in winter, roads are often hazardous due to snow and ice.

Local Traffic Police only have the right to stop vehicles if an offence has been committed.  Travellers should note that a Traffic Police Official should start immediately to complete official papers relating to any alleged offence.

See our driving abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel
The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. With the exception of Air Astana, all Kazakh airlines are refused permission to operate services to the EU because they do not comply with internationally accepted safety requirements. You should avoid flying with the airlines subject to the EU operating ban. If you already have a flight booked with any of them and it is part of a journey, which commenced in the EU you should consult your travel agent. You should check the European Commission website to see whether this will affect your travel.

It is not known whether maintenance procedures on aircraft used for internal or regional flights are always properly observed or whether passengers are covered by insurance. However, the situation is constantly changing; there you should check these issues with the carrier in addition to the EU website noted above.

Local Airlines do not always adhere to schedules and you are advised to check your actual departure or arrival time in advance. You should keep hold of your baggage tags, as you will be required to show them when you leave the destination airport.

Safety and Security - Political situation
Kazakhstan country profile
The political situation in Kazakhstan is stable. Public demonstrations are only permitted when authorised, so rarely take place.

Kazakhstan has a secular constitution. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs.

Possession and use of drugs is illegal and, if found guilty, you could face a lengthy prison sentence in basic conditions.

Although homosexuality is not illegal, it is often not tolerated, especially outside the major cities.

Local regulations require you to carry photo ID at all times.

Some restrictions exist on photography near military establishments, border areas and some official buildings. Notices about these restrictions are sometimes, but not always, indicated so some caution is advised. Travellers should also be aware that photography of airport facilities is prohibited.

See our your trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visa Requirements
All British passport holders must have a valid visa prior to travel. Travellers should ensure they hold the appropriate visa for the purpose of their travel especially for business visas or work permits. Kazakhstan authorities have very strict policy on visa non-compliance, which could be a ban on entry to Kazakhstan for up to five years.

A visa for Kazakhstan is normally valid for 30 days from the date of issue and should be obtained from your nearest Kazakh Embassy before travelling. Please check the validity dates of your visa and any associated restrictions for Kazakhstan carefully before travelling and similarly, if necessary, for the country for your onward destination.

Do not cross the border into or out of Kazakhstan illegally as the absence of entry/exit stamps will cause problems (e.g. possible detention, fines) when leaving or re-entering the country.

Entry Requirements - Visas - Visits of up to 90 days
For most visits British passport holders travelling to Kazakhstan do not need to register with the local authorities (OVIR - The Department for Visas and Registration under the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) providing you arrive at one of the 12 Kazakhstan International Airports. You should check with local oblast authorities as some oblasts still insist upon the registration requirement for visitors even for short stays.

In cases where British passport holders do not need to register with the local OVIR offices, they must ensure that they keep their white immigration card stamped by Kazakhstani Immigration throughout their journey and ready for inspection upon departure. Failure to do so could result in you having to register with the local authorities. If you intend to travel through any of Kazakhstan's border points you should check with the Kazakhstan Embassy to see whether registration with OVIR is required.

Entry requirements - Visas - Visits for more than 90 days and long-term visitors
You will need to register with the local authorities. You may be registered through the organisation that invited you to Kazakhstan or the tourist agency organising your visit. As your registration includes details of where you work or study and your residence in Kazakhstan the MIA should be informed in writing of any changes to these details.

For long-term visitors (including work permit holders), you should check with your prospective employer in Kazakhstan whether you must provide an original HIV/Aids-free certificate as sometimes this is needed by the local authorities where you live/work. You should ensure you have the original with you, as copies are not accepted.

Entry Requirements - Travelling to restricted areas
You may only enter the following territories of the Republic of Kazakhstan (which are closed until 2015), if prior permission has been received from the Foreign Ministry and the Interior Ministry, with an agreement with the Kazakh National Security Committee:

• The Gvardeyskiy urban-type village in Almaty Region (south eastern Kazakhstan)
• The town of Baykonur
• The districts of Karmakchi and Kazalinsk in (southern) Kyzylorda Region
  

Entry Requirements - Passport validity

You must hold a valid passport to enter Kazakhstan. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of your request for a visa. You passport should also have at least one blank page for your visa.

Entry requirements - Visas - Transiting Kazakhstan
There is no agreement allowing visas issued in one Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country to be used to transit Kazakhstan. If you intend to visit two or more CIS countries you should contact the relevant embassies for advice before travelling.

Entry requirements - Visas - Caspian Sea ferry services
If you travel using the Caspian Sea ferry services from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan you will need a valid visa for Azerbaijan. You may find that if you arrive at your destination without a valid visa you will be returned back to Kazakhstan.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Kazakh Embassy in London.

The medical facilities in Kazakhstan are not as advanced as those in the UK. You should ensure that your medical insurance includes evacuation by air ambulance.

Tick-borne encephalitis is common to Kazakhstan, especially in mountains and forests, particularly from April to June. TB has been reported in the Aral Sea and Semipalatinsk regions, as well as in prisons. There have also been recent outbreaks of haemorrhagic fever (a tick-borne disease) with renal syndrome in southern Kazakhstan. In recent years there have been several confirmed reports of fatalities from haemorrhagic fever in this region. In rural areas there are occasional cases of brucellosis picked up from infected meat.

There are reports of lead pollution in the southern city of Shymkent.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 13,000 adults aged 15 or over in Kazakhstan were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 0.1% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Kazakhstan and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should check the websites of NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See our travel health page.

Almaty is in an active seismic zone, but the last major earthquake involving loss of life was in 1927.

There was a series of earth tremors in south eastern Kazakhstan. The first occurred at 08.30am on 1 May with a magnitude of 5.5 points on the Richter scale. The epicentre was located 47 miles to the north east of Almaty. A number of less powerful tremors have been reported since. There have been no reports of damage.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. If you are planning an adventure holiday (including skiing or climbing in the mountains near Almaty) you must ensure that your medical insurance includes air ambulance evacuation. Check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our travel insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then see our when things go wrong page.

General - Registering with the British Embassy
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Replacing a lost or stolen passport
If you lose your passport you must report this immediately to the police and obtain a police report.

The British Embassy Office in Almaty, does not issue full passports and, before setting off, you should ensure that your passport has sufficient validity and a good number of unused pages. However the Embassy is able to accept applications for new passports, which will be forwarded to the British Embassy in Moscow for processing. Please be aware that this may take between 4-6 weeks. Emergency passports, valid for a single journey, are available in Almaty.

You should ensure that you have entered your next of kin details into the back of your passport.

General - Money
You should bring enough cash for your trip. Travellers' cheques are not normally accepted. US$ are the most widely accepted foreign currency. ATM’s are now available in most towns, but do not always accept foreign credit or debit cards. If you are bringing more than 3,000US$ into Kazakhstan you should declare these amounts on arrival into the country and when exiting.

General Consular Assistance - British Embassy in Kazakhstan
British Embassy in Astana is at: 62, Kosmonavtov Street, 6 Floor, 010000
Office hours: GMT: Mon-thurs: 0300-11.30 / Fri:0300-10.00
Local Time: Mon-Thurs: 0900-1730 / Fri: 0900-1600

The British Embassy Office in Almaty is at 97 Zholdasbekova Street Samal Towers, 9th Floor, Almaty (Tel: (00 7 3272 506191).  The Embassy can offer consular advice and assistance,
Office hours: GMT: Mon-Thurs: 0230-11.00 / Fri:0230-0930
Local Time: Mon-thurs: 0830-1700 / Fri: 0830-1530

General - Consular Assistance - Statistics
Eight British nationals required consular assistance in Kazakhstan in the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011 for the following types of incident: two deaths; two hospitalisations; and one arrest.